HALF THE BATTLE
By; Corix and Patrick VeranoNO BULSHIT: -Y’all, Easy! How are you doin’ and the rest of the band?
H.T.B [EASY-VOCALS]: -We're doing well enough, writing new material for our next release and planning our outfits for the next show. plus since 3 of the guys are in nuclear pantyliners they are excited that they are recording this weekend. as far as I can tell everyone is also happy with their family lives but of course we are a bit antsy to play shows we haven’t played in a couple months.
NB: -I’m a bit psyched with HTB’s musicality, where do you get inspiration?
EAZY: -U know how yuu listen to a cd and there’s like one song that blows your mind and you wonder why doesn’t every song sound like that? we try to make every song devastationally perfect and fun, what’s the point of making ok songs and settling for them! We've listened to and seen many bands and we try to write songs that would make us get up and jump on top of everyone and sing along.
NB: -What’s your nationality by the way?
EAZY: -I’m American I was born in Fairfax Virginia.
NB: -How do you find Philippines?
EAZY: -You cant beat the weather here, it never gets cold and even during rainy season it doesn’t rain that much. And of course I love being called 'joe' all the time.Ii enjoy it here although people treat animals poorly here, I see lots of children abusing cats and dogs... kicking them or dragging them hard by their throats using a leash. People are friendly here and always want to speak English with me even though sometimes I want to speak tagalog so I can learn more.
NB: -What about the scene?
EAZY: -Ahh the scene... let me think... its cozy. There are good bands with good hearts here but from what I see there are not enough beneficiaries, younger bands and kids to replenish the scene. The younger kids aren’t being influenced by the scene they are being influenced by the radio and the television and we all need to introduce them to the joys of the underground punk/hardcore scene. Show them 'how fun life can be'!
NB: -How you guys started? Where did you meet the HC guys from Cavite like the Nuclear Punishment, YFC and Feud? Pls. Tell us the short bios of the band.
EAZY: -Well my wife introduced me to her band and her friends' bands(dance of decline, feud, a.o.d) and I talked with her about starting a band myself and she recommended Paolo. Probably a year later we actually started writing songs and decided to practice. Mike the bassist is a friend of the family and I enjoyed his company so we invited him. Paolo of course plays with Rommel and Mike heart in nuclear pumpernickel so when I asked him if he knew Some1 for second guitar he said he maybe knew one, that’s where Rommel came in and when our original drummer didn’t show up a couple times to practice and nuclear pennsylvania was practicing at my house Rommel suggested we give Mike a try and that’s the story.
NB: -Just curious about your music influences who are those bands that inspires you that much while creating your 7 track cd?
EAZY: -Bands eh.. hmm... for me battery, American nightmare, carry on, rancor, rambo, champion, and 'buried but breathing' by converge. That’s what inspired us to start the band and that’s what I was listening to at the time. of course we all have different influences in the band and to name everything that has ever influenced us would be too boring, so lets just say we take everything in and spit out the bad and keep in the good.
NB: -Your music has lot of sing along part, even I myself sing along with it, my question is, when you are taking a bath, do you sing?
EASZY: -I sing to my daughter and I sing with the stereo and I used to sing in the shower, but now its too echoey in there and I don’t like the acoustics so I'll have to say no.
NB: -Are you straight edge and practicing veganism?
EAZY: -Yes I am straight edge and have always been and I am vegan and have been since 1997 minus a slip up or two on the way. Veganism is an issue that means a great deal to me because people always make excuses why they can't be vegan or don't want to be vegan but the bottom line is you can live without eating animals or exploiting animals so why not do it? and if u want to debate the issue I have many arguments for you so BRING IT! [NO I DON’T WANT TO ARGUE, ‘CUZ YOU ARE RIGHT, I PRACTICED VEGANISM BEFORE BUT IT JUST LASTED FOR 6 MOnTHS, I LOST IT, STUPID ME-CORIX]
NB: -Are you also involve in any animal rights org.?
EAZY: -Currently I am not involved with any animal rights organizations because I am not aware of any good ones in the Philippines but if u know any let me know and if anyone knows any let me know!
NB: -Your song “guest list” spins my cd player a hundred times I guess, and I also like the message because sometimes I can’t attend shows ‘cuz sometimes I am out of money to pay the entrance, hehehe… do you think if shows has for free their will be gig organizers and production that will exist these days?
EAZY: -For me the underground hardcore scene should never be a living, because once it becomes a business it will ruin everything that’s why the scene to me is dead in America, it is now a business. So you have to sacrifice for the scene if u really love it. I know that its hard to make a living and sometimes its too much for someone to do a show and spend the money for the space and equipment and everything, that's why things like collectives are a great idea, if u have 10+ people involved to make a show each individuals sacrifice is thus lessoned. Take for instance our demo, of course we spent money on the recording and the reproduction but to say that everyone in the scene should have to pay us back for making the music we love by charging them money is selfish to me. I believe in making money outside the scene to spend on the scene to give back the love that it has given us. I will forever be in debt to hardcore and the ideas I have learned from it and the friends I have made through it and sacrificing my time and money is nothing compared to what it has given me.
NB: -And now, who’s on your guest list?
EAZY: -It will always be everybody!
NB: -Your lyrics deals with personal, life and reality, why you were not into political hardcore stuff like dissing the government and stuff like that?
EAZY: -For me the government is a reflection of how we treat each other in our personal relationships and in our neighborhoods. We talk behind each others backs, we take advantage of each other, we pretty much treat each other like shit. So of course people are going to hate the governments because really we hate ourselves. I think we have to change the people around us and influence them to change the people around them and if it continues over time the world will change. If we focus on the governments of the world, which will never change unless everyone wants the same things and everyone works together to make those things the norm, we will be ignoring the more important issues... the ones that affect our families and friends and neighbours and ourselves. We should be treating each other better and caring about each others well being not the well being of our wallets.
NB: -What can you say about those Iraqis beheading Americans and now the Filipino Angelo Dela Cruz?
EAZY: -It’s amazing how brutal people can be when they are desperate and because they are getting away with it they won't change anytime soon people will continue to be kidnapped for ransom in Iraq and it's one of the saddest things I've heard of in a while. No more about that I will get depressed and that’s not posi.
NB: -What can you say about the winning presidential candidate Gloria Arroyo?
EAZY: -She isn’t very tall, I could beat her at basketball. Politically speaking I don't put much thought into who is president, they are usually just a figurehead to represent the government and I’m not into surface images.
NB: -Aiight man, this seems to be the hardest questions that I ever ask, who is your celebrity crush?
EAZY: -Diego from bubble gang
NB: -Do you like Britney Spears?
EAZY: -Not in the least.
NB: -What was the last soap opera that you’ve watch?
EAZY: -My family watches marina so I have seen that last... the story is unbelievably rediculous though and they are really fetching for ideas!
NB: -Have you ever shit in your pants when you were in high school?
EAZY: -I don't think so but by asking this question I have come to believe that YOU have!!! do u have the stained tighty whiteys saved at home? [yes, when I was in grade school, hehehe-corix]
NB: -Define love?
EAZY: -Love is caring about something even if no one else cares that you care and no one else will even know that you care and being willing to live your life for that.
NB: -Describe your ideal vacation?
EAZY: -I wanna go see Palawan that place looks crazy beautiful BUT my ideal vacation would be to visit everywhere beautiful in the natural world without having to travel just having my backyard be everywhere beautiful in one! woo!!!!!!!!
NB: -Your dream band to play with?
EAZY: -Battery because they were the band that made me realize what a great thing hardcore is compared to other forms of music.
NB; -Your life 10 years from now?
EAZY: -I see myself as a professional body builder... either that or an old man trying to make music for the kids and being laughed at behind my back because all my tattoos are faded and green!
NB: -Aiight, Easy! Take it easy man, be safe always and thank you so much for answering my crazy ass questions, much respect and mo’ propz to your band, stay real! Keep tha peace! It’s now your turn to do some shout outs and spread your massage to the world!
EAZY: -Everyone should go to the take 4 production on August 7th its free in Cavite. Always continue to support your scene and don't expect to receive anything in return its not about that. When you give your love the reward is the fact you gave love in the first place. please if anyone wants a demo of half the battle come see us play and we will give you one and much love to the no bullshit zine, take 4, everyone that comes to the shows and sings along, my bandmates, and especially my wife and children! thanks. oh and hey man put the ad for the show on the 7th on your zine if its done before the end of the month like u said!
Contact: easy@sxe.com
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